On My Mind Today

This endless cold winter has me yearning for long warm summer days. As the name indicates this light, fluffy dessert may be able to take you there at least in your mind. Hope that you and your family enjoy this fruity summer delight. Strawberry Chiffon Squares   1/2 cup Butter 3 cups (about 56) finely crushed Vanilla Wafers 1 - 3 ounce package Strawberry Jello 1 - 10 ounce package frozen Strawberries in syrup, thawed Cold Water 1 - 14 ounce can Sweetened Condensed Milk   In medium saucepan melt butter. Remove and stir in crumbs. Put 2/3 of the crumbs in a 13 x 9 pan - reserve remaining crumbs.   In a large bowl dissolve Jello in boiling water. Drain strawberries, reserving syrup; add cold water to syrup to make 1 cup. Add to Jello and chill until partially set.   Whip Jello mixture until thick and fluffy; fold in sweetened condensed milk and strawberries. Pour into prepared pan, garnish with reserved crumbs and if desired halved, fresh strawberries.   C

My daughters have been over to spend a few days this past week with my grandchildren. It is always such a joy to have time with them, but it also reminds me how much work their little darlings can be. Both of my daughters are single mothers which is an incredible responsibility. Most of us have a single mom in the family, or we know someone who is in this role. What we tend to overlook or forget is how difficult this can be. Although mothers are usually the ones that do the majority of child rearing and discipline, when there is a father in the home there is someone else there to back you up and support your decisions. They are there to help with the everyday tasks and to give mothers a much needed break.  When you are the one who is solely responsible for the daily care of your child it can be overwhelming at times. You are the one who wakes them each morning and tries to get them ready for the day while you are also trying to prepare yourself for work. Hoping that your day, and t

A wonderful combination of flavors and a hearty meal to warm you on a cold winter evening. From the kitchen of Woman's Day this will become one of your favorite comfort foods. Pork and Cider Stew 2 medium Sweet Potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4 inch pieces 3 small Parsnips or Carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch thick slices 1 cup chopped Onion 2 lb. boneless Pork Shoulder, cut into 1 inch pieces 1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped 1/4 cup Flour 3/4 teaspoon Salt 1/2 teaspoon each dried Sage and Thyme 1/4 teaspoon Pepper 1 cup Apple Cider 1. Layer sweet potatoes, parsnips (or carrots), onion, pork and apple in a 3-1/2 quart slow-cooker. 2. Stir flour, salt, sage, thyme and pepper in a small bowl to mix. Add cider; stir until smooth. Pour over meat and vegetables. 3. Cover and cook on low 7 to 9 hours or until pork and sweet potatoes are tender when pierced. Serve with fresh, hot crusty rolls.   

The beauty of winter does not escape me. When I look out over the lake on a bright sunny day after a fresh snowfall it can take my breath away. I am always amazed by what Mother Nature can give us no matter what the season. However, any of you that live in a cold winter climate will understand this. I have reached that part of the season where my body and mind are saying enough already!! The cold has seeped into my bones, and my muscles and joints are screaming for mercy from the hours of shoveling. That does not even address my state of mind which is saying please Lord bring warmth to my body and soul. Now I am not a "negative Nellie" and do remind myself every day how fortunate I am to have such a good life. So when the long winter starts to bring me down it is time to do something out of my normal routine as a reminder of how good life is. Yesterday I was fortunate to meet a dear friend for lunch. And all of you women out there will understand how good it is for the so

Obviously I embrace technology as I use it on a daily basis. It has many wonderful applications which enable us to learn and be aware of what is happening in the world around us. Used wisely it is invaluable, and as an adult we can determine what wise use is. As a young child they cannot make that determination and often spend far too much time involved in this activity. They should be introduced to it, but it is only part of what they need to learn. There are those who will totally disagree with me, but I think it is time to ensure our children are not using technology for hours at a time. I can't help but believe that their brains are being overstimulated by frequent use, and then we wonder why they cannot slow down and easily participate in life when they walk away from whatever techie gadget they have been using. Many ask themselves why their child has trouble interacting socially and does not play as well with others as they should. How can they learn this if they are gettin

If you are having weekend guests and don't want to spend a great deal of time in the kitchen on Sunday morning, then you will love this recipe which can be prepared and put in the refrigerator overnight. All of your favorites rolled into one delicious dish. Serve with a light, fresh fruit salad as a side. Overnight Italian Breakfast   1 pound Italian Pork Sausage 1 (1 pound) loaf Sourdough Bread, cubed 1 (3 oz.) sliced Mushrooms with Garlic, undrained 1/4 cup thinly sliced Green Onions 10 Eggs 3 cups Half and Half 1 teaspoon Dry Mustard 1/2 teaspoon Salt 8 oz. shredded Italian Cheese blend   Spray 13 x 9 pan with cooking spray. Cook sausage in large skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink, stirring frequently. Drain.   Place bread cubes in sprayed baking dish. sprinkle evenly with cooked sausage, mushrooms and onions.   in a large bowl combine eggs, half and half, dry mustard and salt; beat lightly. slowly pour egg mixture evenly over m

I'm not sure when or where it started, but teeth whitening is totally out of control. Perhaps it started in Hollywood as many of these trends do. Somebody came up with the process and sold celebrities on it convincing them that they would look younger and get more acting jobs if they only had whiter teeth. I am certain that nobody is born with teeth so white that they would blind someone when they gazed upon them. Unfortunately people tend to take it too far and each time they think their teeth need to be whiter. We all have a natural tint to our teeth that blends extremely well with our complexion. If we practice good oral hygiene then our teeth will maintain the color that we have from the day our teeth start to appear. I am reminded of an episode of NCIS where Agent Timothy McGee falls asleep wearing a teeth whitening tray. His teeth become so white that he refuses to open his mouth so he can avoid the ridicule from his co-workers, and drinks anything that he thinks will sta